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Personal Finance · head to head

Copilot Money vs Starling Bank

Copilot Money logo

Copilot Money

Personal Finance

AI-powered personal finance assistant

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Starling Bank logo

Starling Bank

Personal Finance

UK-licensed digital bank with FSCS-protected deposits, built and majority-owned without a US parent

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Copilot Money apple only: web, iPhone, iPad and Mac, with no Android app; Starling Bank as a UK-only bank, customers wanting broad multi-currency holding, international transfers or in-app investing will need a separate product, since Starling's feature set stays deliberately focused on core banking.
  • They diverge on capability: Copilot Money covers AI-powered insights, Starling Bank covers FSCS-protected deposits.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Copilot Money and Starling Bank actually diverge.

Attributes where Copilot Money and Starling Bank differ
AttributeCopilot MoneyStarling Bank
Pricing modelsubscriptionFree personal current account; business accounts have free and paid tiers
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidiOS, Android, Web
Founded2020Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Copilot Money

  • AI-powered insights
  • Spending analysis
  • Budget optimization
  • Financial planning
  • Bank accounts
  • Credit cards
  • Web support
  • IOS support

Only in Starling Bank

  • FSCS-protected deposits
  • Business banking suite
  • Fee-free foreign card spending
  • Savings Spaces
  • Joint accounts
  • Starling mortgages

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Copilot Money

  • Tracking spending across connected accountsnot Starling Bank
  • Budgeting by category with automatic transaction taggingnot Starling Bank
  • Investment and net worth trackingnot Starling Bank
  • Reviewing recurring subscriptionsnot Starling Bank

Starling Bank

  • A UK resident wanting a free, fully licensed current account with FSCS deposit protectionnot Copilot Money
  • A sole trader or small business wanting a business account with built-in invoicing rather than a separate accounting subscriptionnot Copilot Money
  • A frequent traveller wanting fee-free card spending abroad on a UK-regulated accountnot Copilot Money
  • A saver wanting goal-based Spaces sub-accounts without opening a separate savings productnot Copilot Money

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Copilot Money

  • Apple only: web, iPhone, iPad and Mac, with no Android app
  • No free tier; $95 a year billed annually, which works out at $7.92 a month
  • The trial only starts once accounts are connected

Starling Bank

  • As a UK-only bank, customers wanting broad multi-currency holding, international transfers or in-app investing will need a separate product, since Starling's feature set stays deliberately focused on core banking.
  • Business account paid tiers add a monthly fee for features that some competitors bundle for free, so cost comparison against other business banking options should account for the tier actually needed, not the free entry point.
  • Like other app-first banks, Starling has very limited physical presence, which is a real limitation for customers needing to deposit cash or prefer in-person service.
  • Mortgage lending is limited to buy-to-let through a subsidiary rather than a full residential mortgage range, so it is not a one-stop option for a typical homebuyer.
  • Interest rates on savings Spaces and any lending products are set individually and can change, so the specific rate should be checked at the time of opening rather than assumed from marketing.

Pricing, plan by plan

Copilot Money

Free
  • Free TrialFree
    • No credit card required
    • Limited access to test the app
  • Paid Subscription$95/year
    • No ads
    • No hidden fees
    • Private data handling

Starling Bank

Free
  • Personal current accountFree
    • Free current account with FSCS-protected deposits
    • Fee-free foreign currency card spending
    • No monthly account fee
  • Business Toolkit$7/month
    • Integrated invoicing and expense categorisation
    • Multiple sub-accounts (Spaces) for tax and VAT setting-aside
    • Accounting software integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose Copilot Money if

  • You need ai-powered insights.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want spending analysis.
Copilot Money review

Choose Starling Bank if

  • You need fscs-protected deposits.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want business banking suite.
Starling Bank review

Questions people ask

Is Copilot Money or Starling Bank better?
Neither clearly leads. Copilot Money starts at Free and Starling Bank at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Copilot Money or Starling Bank?
Copilot Money starts at Free and Starling Bank at Free.
Does Copilot Money or Starling Bank run on more platforms?
Copilot Money runs on Web, IOS, Android. Starling Bank runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Copilot Money for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Copilot Money best used for?
Copilot Money is most often used for tracking spending across connected accounts, budgeting by category with automatic transaction tagging, investment and net worth tracking, reviewing recurring subscriptions. Of those, tracking spending across connected accounts and budgeting by category with automatic transaction tagging are not what Starling Bank is typically brought in for.
What can Copilot Money do that Starling Bank cannot?
Copilot Money covers AI-powered insights, Spending analysis, Budget optimization, Financial planning. Starling Bank covers FSCS-protected deposits, Business banking suite, Fee-free foreign card spending, Savings Spaces.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Copilot Money: How much does Copilot Money cost?

Copilot Money costs $95 per year when billed annually, which equals $7.92 per month. A free trial is available with no credit card required. A monthly subscription option exists but the specific monthly price is not listed on the website.

Source
Starling Bank: Is Starling Bank a real bank?

Yes, Starling Bank Limited holds a full UK banking licence and is regulated by the FCA and PRA, the same framework as traditional UK banks.

Copilot Money: Does Copilot Money have any hidden fees?

No, Copilot Money explicitly states there are no ads, no hidden fees, and your data stays private with the company focused on building the product.

Source
Starling Bank: Are deposits protected if Starling fails?

Eligible deposits are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to 85,000 pounds per eligible person, the same statutory protection as other UK banks.

Starling Bank: Is Starling good for a small business?

It has a well regarded business banking product with integrated invoicing and accounting software links, commonly used by UK sole traders and small companies.

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